CHELSEA - Charlene Roberta Markham Pushard, 68, entered into the Kingdom of Heaven and was welcomed by her Lord and Savior at 7:22 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Oct. 19, 2011. Charlene passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus at her home in Chelsea, with her husband, sons and loving family by her side. Charlene had 24/7 personal care for the last nine weeks of her life by her dedicated husband, her sons and their wives, cousins, niece, sister and friends.

Charlene was born in Augusta on Dec. 20, 1942, at Augusta General Hospital. Her parents were Joanne and Richard Lathrop of Chelsea. Charlene attended schools in the Augusta and Gardiner area. She achieved her high school diploma from the Adult Education Program at Gardiner High School after she returned to school as an adult and worked very hard to achieve her goal.

Charlene married Richard L Pushard Sr. on March 19 in the year 1960. She was employed by Trask's Village in Gardiner for 28 years and later went to work for Dr. Gagnon at Riverside Dental in Farmingdale for the last 10 years until retiring in April 2011. She made her home in Chelsea for the last 44 years and was raised in Augusta.

Charlene was predeceased by her mother on July 17, 2011; her two brothers, Richard E Lathrop on Aug. 26, 1993, and Daniel W. Lathrop on Sept. 12, 2006.

Survivors include her husband and best friend of 52 years, Richard Pushard Sr., of Chelsea; her sons and their wives, Richard Pushard Jr. and his wife, Melanie, of Manchester, Robby Pushard and his wife, Rebecca, of Manchester, Randy Pushard of Chelsea. Charlene also leaves behind one sister, Lorelei "Lolly" Thompson, of Sidney and her husband, Steve; and one brother, James Lathrop, and his wife, Nancy, of Fairfield. She also leaves seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews who were more like her own children.

A graveside committal service will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery in Gardiner. (Kennebec Journal 10/21/2011)